Operating means for liquid-level indicators



Sept. 11, 1928.

T. M. EYNON OPERATING MEANS FOR LIQUID LEVEL INDICATORS/J,

Filed March 19, 1921 z sheets-sheet 1 MMSMF 'Sep t. 11, 1923.v

T. M. EYNQN OPERATING MEANS FOR LIQUID LEVEL INDICATORS Fi led March 19. 1921 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 and mount the, operating mechanism upon Patented Sept. 11, 1 928.

* UNITED STATES THOMAS M. EYNON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CPERATING MEANS FOR LIQUID-LEVEL INDICATORS.

Application filed March 19, 1921. Serial No. 453,840.

My invention relates tome-ans for operating indicators at the dashboard of an automobile'to show the height of gasoline in the tank.

vThe purpose of my invention is to use a float having a relatively slnall vertical eX- tension and to transmit itsvertical movemerit through a belt, whichmay be archain driven directly by movement of the float.

A further purpose is to rotate gearing by belts operated by float and to connect the gearing with a diaphragm-operated 1ndreating mechanism. 7 o p A furtherpurpose is to use several belts driven by the float and assisting each other in the rotation of gearing, which rotation is transmitted to fluid indicating means at the dash-board.

Further purposes will appear in the specification andin the claims. V

'I have preferred to illustrate my inven tion by but one form among the various forms in which it might appear, selecting a form which is practical, efficient and very rctratesthe principles of my invention;

Figure 1 is an outline view of an automobile to which a preferred form of my invention is applied. v o

Figure 2 is a section upon line 2 2 of Figure 1. v

Figure 3 is a section upon line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a section upon line 44 of Figure 3. Inthe drawings like parts. p

Describing the form shown :Within the tank 5 I mount operating mechanism, insertible and removable in its entirety by insertion or removal of a bottom closure hereinafter described for controlling fluid in dicator 6 through a fluid,preferably a liquid within pipe 7. The indicator may be of the sight typeor may operate by pressure or in any other recognized way. i a 1 The tank may be of any" shape. In order to accommodate thefoperating mechanism, I cut openings 8 and 9 in the top and bottom, which are closed by a cap 10 and a bottom closure 11 each preferably giving room above similar numerals indicate or below the tank for operating parts. I re' tain the cap and bottom closures by any suitable flanges 12, 13 united to the tank,

therefore,

one of these closures, preferably upon the lower closure as shown.

PATENT OFF-ICE.

This lower closure is shown as recessed I below, the tank at 14 to receive-a preferably ring-like type of float 15, having a relatively small vertical extension.

Upon the lower closure I 'inount standards i 16'and 17 which carry dia hragm-supporting flanges 18 and 19. Tlibir faces afford seats for diaphragms 2O and21, held in place by rings 22 and 23., The spaces 26 and 27 to the left and right respectively of these diaphragms are closed by the standards 16, and 17, which arefapertured to receive removable plugs 24 and 25. Setting up or slacking these plugs adjusts the capacities of the spaces and, consequently the quantities of fluid within these spaces, varying the setting of the gauge. This fluidis preferably liquid and may be alcohol or any other liquid which will not freezewat the tempera-e. ture to which it is to be exposed and which I can be seen in the sight gauge orwhich will operate a pressure gauge. 7 liable and which at the same time well illus- ,7

Upon the upper ends of'the standards 16 and 171 mount rods, or-strips 28 and 29] wvhich supportthe upper frame work 30. 'This frame work carries pulleys, sprockets 'orother wheels which are for flexible con- 'nections and are shown at 31 and 32 upon shafts 33 and 34. .I call these belts, intending to cover the many forms of bands, cords,"

chains, etc. by this language.

These shafts are equipped with spur gears I 35 and 36 which engage a crank gear 37 upon shaft 38. The shafts are suitably supported in the frame. v j v Upon gear 37 I place a crank pin 39'to which is pivoted the upper end of pitman 40. 1

ure 3. The wheels 42 and 43 are connected 7 a with wheels 31 and 32 by means ofthe belts 45 and 46 which are connected with the a float by engagement at 47, 48 with arms-49 j v and 50 connected with the float. "Itwill be noted that pulleys 31 and 32 must rotate in the same direction and that connections be-' v tween the belts 45, 46 and the float must,

be made on corresponding stretches of the belts or hands. For this reason connection is made with the left stretch of the beltin each case.

The "lower end of pitmanflO is connected at pivot 51 with the two arms 52, 53 of a toggle. These arms. are connected. atfoia with cars 56 and 57 mounted upon the diapliragms 20 and 21. Though -I recognize that the same operating mechanism could be, used with balanced diaphragms, shown in a copending application for operating means for liquid height indicators, Ser. "No. 459,389, filed March 19, 1921. The constructioiihere shown causes the diaphragins'to be moved in .oppositedirections. .By. this. means the quantity of how is doubled since the combined flows, .from two diaphragm I chambers are llllltedjtlbllfi thefluid content of the tank is varied with movement ofthe diaphragms,.re-

.Sulting in a loss of balance. Both of the. 20'" spaces 26 and 27 would in that-case be connected with the pipe 7, or oneonly may be so connected as preferred. 1 p

'In operation as the float moves upwardly fromjhej position.shown in Figure 3, it

moves the left hand stretches of both of the belts '45 and 4G upwardly, rotatingibotl of gears 31and32 in the same clock-' wise direction. (Figure 3) andn'otating the ,gear 37 i in a counter-clockwise direction.

This otatesthepin'39 and with itthepitman "d0, straightening tlie'toggle and push ingfthe diaplira gms away from each other, withconsequent reduction. of the cubical capacities of the spaces 26 and 27.

This raises the flui'cl' in 'thesight gauge-if one. be.usedor increases the" pressure inthe pressure gaugeif it lbe preferredgiving the desired indication. Inthe reverse opera .tion lowering of the float lowers the left- "hand stretches. ofthe beltsturning'the wheels 31*and' 32in counter-clockwisedirection and tlie gear'37 inclockwise direction. I This loosens the toggle, draws the diaphragms toward eachother andallows'the liquid withinthe indicator connectionsito flow intothe spacebr spaces-back ofthe diaphragms with which the indicator is connected.

In xthis illustration, and as suggested above, :T have disregarded the variation .in cubical coiitentsof'the remainder in the tank byrea'somof 'IDOVEIllQIliJ of both. diaphragms together, since this matter has been .taken care of properly "in a co-pending application filedEbyme in which thetwo diaphragms are o'iiiedby a connection so: asto" niovetogether and one'end of the toggle is'fixcd,'maintaining the. cubical contents liD' tllG ftank 1111- changed. Such an arrangement may, of course, belapplied to thepresen't invention wheremaintenaiice of cubical contents of the tank isdesired. L V .o p

I recognize that my disclosures herein will suggest to those skilled in "theart various.

other formsof obtaining the advantage of in'y invention,diifering in'this suggestion according to the needs, prior experience and whim or :pre'fei'ence oflthe designer; It is my purpose to include herein all such variations of my invention, whether securing all or apart onlyofthe benefitthereof, which of each pair mounted in'the bottom andthc other in the top of the tank, supports for the wheels, separate belts. about the'wheels of the two pairs, a float surrounding the belts, connection from the float to each of the belts. gearingconnected-with the upper wheel of each pair and depth-indicating mechanism operated from'said gearing.

2. In .an indicating device for gasoline tanks, a tank, two pairs of guide wheels, one of each pair mounted in the bottomflandthe otherin thetop of'the tank, supports for the wheels, separate belts abontthe wheels of thotwo pairs, a float surrouiidingthe. belts, connection from the float to eacliofJthe belts,

gearing connected with the upper wheelo'f each pair and depth-indicating mechanism operated from said gearing, the indicating mechanism so interconnecting with the gearing as to maintain the. same movement ofonc belt as of-the other and "hence equal'moveni'ents of all'the'parts ofth'e float connected therewith I A 3. In' an indicating device for gasoline tanks, a depth indicator, a gear andconncctions' from" said gear to the depthzindicator, a pair of. separated operating gears enga ingthefirst gear, shafts for the thrce'gears, supports forthe shafts,.a tank, wheels upon the shafts of'the operating gears located in the upper part of the tank, a pair ofwhels in the lower part of the tank, a pair of.

bandseach trained about one wheel stench pairythe wheels of each band bein different from those of the other, rlounding the bands and engaging both ,of t iem.

4. A tanln'stzmdardsin theibottoin of the tank having "facing spaces surrounded by seats,'diaphragn is upon the seatsclosing the spaces so as to confinea pressurefluid therein,ftoggle leverseach pivotally connectedto. the other at one end andat the other end to ing with thc'toggle levers, a gearwith'which the l'OdlS connected to reciprocate the rod with movement of the gear, float-"actuated means lQl turning the gearing to move the fluid thercinto actuate the indicator in response to movement of its diaphragm.

and a float sur ids use

p a corresponding diaphragm, a. rod connect- 5. In an indicating device for gasoline tanks, a tank, a float, a continuous belt opcontract the space with upward movement of the float.

6. In an indicating device for gasoline tanks, a tank, a float, a continuous belt operated by vertical movement of the float, gearing driven by the belt, a diaphragm, means whereby said diaphragm is enclosed on one side to form a space free from communication with the tank, a fluid-operated indicator, connections establishing fluid communication between the indicator and said space said connections including a toggle and also a crank turned by the gearing, between the gearing and the diaphragm to contract the space with upward movement of the float.

7. In an indicating device for gasoline tanks, a tank, a pair of opposed diaphragins and mounts therefor including means whereby the diaphragms are enclosed on one side to form spaces free from communication with the tank, aitoggle connecting the diaphragms, a pitman connected at one end with the toggle, a crank forsaid pitm'an,

gearing turning the crank, a belt operating the gearing and a float connected with the belt to move it with movement of the float. 8. In an indicating device for gasoline tanks, a tank, a pair of opposed diaphragms and mounts therefor including means whereby the diaphragms are enclosed to form spaces free from communication with the tank, a toggle for the diaphragms, a

pitman connected at one end with the toggle, a crank for said pitman, gearing turning'the crank, a belt operating the gearing and a float surrounding the diaphragms and pitman and connected with the belt to move it with movement of the float.

9. In an indicat ng device for gasoline tanks, a tank, a diaphragn'iactuator within.

the tank, a diaphragm therefor a mount for the diaphragm providing a fluid space'between it and the d aphragm, gearing and connections for moving vthe diaphragm, a

float a plurality of belts connected with and providing the guide for the float, a pair of wheels for each belt about which it is trained and connections between one wheel of each belt and the gearing for operating the latter with movement of the belts.

10. In an indicating device for gasoline tanks. a tank, a diaphragm therein, a support tor the diaphragm providing a space closed by the diaphragm, a float surrounding the diaphragm in one position of the float,

THOMAS M. nYNoN. 

